Trees, Forests, and Refugee Displacement in Northwest Uganda

Abstract

Refugee displacement can amplify pressure on trees and forests through agricultural expansion, fuelwood harvesting, and charcoal production. Such resources, however, provide vital ecosystem, livelihood, and social benefits, including non-timber forest products (NTFPs), shade, wind protection, construction material, and conflict mitigation. This dissertation presents a series of five empirical studies focused on tree-based environmental programs and ongoing forest engagement in Uganda's Imvepi Refugee Settlement, which hosts approximately 77,000 predominantly South Sudanese refugees. The first study analyzed five tree-based interventions implemented in Imvepi, finding that diverse goals, from biodiversity conservation to short-term livelihood support, can be reconciled through inter-organizational coordination and integration. The second study used participatory mapping transect walks to examine recognition and use of edible, medicinal, and fiber NTFPs among refugee and host-community participants. Comparatively lower identification among refugees was attributed to displacement-related separation from elders, urban exposure, and restricted access to high-value resources. The third study compared fuelwood access among refugee and host-community participants using Optimal Foraging Theory, revealing that conflict avoidance, settlement structure, and land constraints reduce foraging efficiency in resource-scarce displacement settings. The fourth study assessed agroforestry's sustainable livelihood contributions through a visual and participatory approach. Both refugee and host-community participants prioritized fuelwood and shelter materials over social benefits yet demonstrated that trade-offs between ecosystem services and commodity production can limit multifunctionality. The final study examined refugee-led agroforestry and food security initiatives across six Ugandan settlements. Initiatives aligned closely with food sovereignty principles and are positioned to achieve greater local legitimacy and sustainability when compared to externally funded humanitarian projects predicated on prefigurative adoption of promoted practices. The five studies collectively show that engagement with trees and forests in displacement contexts is shaped by social dynamics, humanitarian policies, land tenure, and sociocultural preferences, factors which should be accounted for in effective environmental responses. Furthermore, findings indicate that greater localization of environmental and tree-based programs can contribute to their long-term sustainability and community support in socio-ecologically complex humanitarian settings.